After what seems like months of rain, we finally had a sunny day yesterday - and not just sunny - warm enough to be outside in short sleeves and actually enjoy the weather. Granted, the ground was still soaked and which each step a wet sponge like sound was returned from the ground. But just being able to get outside and enjoy some fresh air was great.
Seeing is spring is around the corner, I intended to tackle a few jobs that I knew needed doing so I set about accomplishing a few of the items. One of the items on my wife’s “to do” list was removing 5 large rose bushes that are in our front yard. We planted these bushes years ago, and every year we’ve cut them back, and each year they come back bigger and fuller and more intense than the year prior. Although I really liked the plants my wife wants them gone - so guess what - they are getting removed. It turns out rose bushes are not easy to remove, fighting every step along the way pricking my fingers, arms and forehead in more places that I can count using just fingers and toes.
The entire time I was engaged in this project I saw a picture of something we do as individuals and from that a lesson emerged. May I propose that our bad habits are a lot like a rose bush. Stick with me, because this is some good stuff. Have you ever stopped and looked at a rose? I mean, really stop, and stare at its beauty. It really is an intricate creation full of beauty and life. Take a step back and look at what the rose is attached to, a strong thick branch full of thorns that really hurt when they prick you.
And the root system - strong and deep not wanting to be removed - stands as a defense to make sure the plant once established isn’t going anywhere. May I propose our bad habits have all the same characteristics? They (our bad habits) look really good when up close but zooming out all the thorns come to light revealing that our bad habit is in fact not a great idea at all.
Here’s a fact you can’t dispute. You have bad habits, I have bad habits, WE ALL HAVE BAD HABITS. Have you ever tried to stop doing a bad habit? Have you been figuratively “pricked” by the thorns we’ve established in an attempt to justify our bad habits. I’ve got a friend who chews tobacco, has since he was in high school. To me, that is a gross disgusting habit, to my friend who admits the same, he uses the excuse that he enjoys it as his thorn to prevent a change. He’s not alone, we are all guilty of using excuses as a way to justify our bad habits.
Yesterday proved to me that just like our bad habits, those rose bushes that I dug up didn’t start as 4” roots embedded deep into the ground but rather a single root 1/2” thick and about 8” long. The longer we allowed that rose bush to survive in our yard, the more embedded it became. The stronger its defense system grew with some thorns being over 1/2” thick at its base and almost an inch tall with a razor sharp edge.
Sure, the flower it produced was pretty, but only when taken out of context to the actual plant itself. The plant is a thorn infested monstrosity that grows with the intent to ward off people like me from removing it from its home.
I won the battle over the rose bushes - I have the battle scars to prove it. What battle scars do you have from ending the bad habits you quit? Is your life better for having quit those habits?
This week may I suggest you identify a bad habit or two that you have and start the painful process of removing it from your daily routine. I know it won’t be easy, and yes I’m confident you’ll get pricked a couple times along the way making it painful. The results will be worth it, I know that to be true.
I’ll tell you what - I’m all in on this process this week also - hold me accountable just like I’m asking you to be accountable. Removing 1 bad habit from our lives opens up space for a new habit that adds value to your life, and that I think is a great trade off.
Wouldn’t you agree?
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